If you’re living with psoriatic arthritis, regular visits to your rheumatologist may be part of your daily routine. Your rheumatologist will want to monitor your symptoms and make sure your treatment is helping to improve your symptoms.
You may also want to discuss new treatment options and steps you can take to better manage your symptoms and improve your overall health.
To maximize the value of seeing a rheumatologist, you need to prepare for it. This process does not require much effort, but it can make a difference in the effective management of psoriatic arthritis.
“Being prepared for your appointment keeps you organized,” says Guillermo J. Valenzuela, MD, president and CEO of Integral Rheumatology and Immunology Specialists in Plantation, Florida. “That means more productive results and avoids situations where patients have to call back with dozens of questions.”
Here are five ways you can prepare for your next rheumatologist appointment.
1. Record your symptoms
In psoriatic arthritis, pain and inflammation may alternate with periods of remission. Symptoms may also worsen with age. These symptoms can change easily, so it’s important to keep a diary.
By recording your symptoms, Dr. Valenzuela says, your rheumatologist can better understand your health and treatment needs. Doctors usually ask patients for more than just a history of pain.
The diary aims to cover the following areas:
- Records of pain and inflammation. For people with psoriatic arthritis, not every day is the same. Keep track of which joints hurt, what makes the pain better or worse, and how long the morning stiffness lasts.
- To what extent do your symptoms interfere with your daily life and prevent you from doing what you want to do?
- Complications that may be diagnosed. People with psoriatic arthritis are more susceptible to certain diseases such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes. Knowing and sharing details of your medical history can be very important, Valenzuela says.
- A list of other symptoms that may suggest the development of comorbidities, such as dizziness, chest pain, or visual disturbances. Knowing other symptoms can give your rheumatologist clues to other underlying problems.
- Details of unusual events that can affect psoriatic arthritis, such as bouts of insomnia or physical injury.
- If you experience mood changes or symptoms such as anxiety, depression, or fatigue.
2. Maintain a record of the medications and supplements you take
Always keep a list of all prescription medications you take and their dosages. This includes medications for other conditions as well as over-the-counter supplements such as multivitamins and anti-inflammatory supplements such as curcumin and turmeric.
“Patients sometimes withhold this information because they feel like they’re doing something that their doctor won’t approve of,” Valenzuela says of supplements. “It’s good to be transparent with your doctor.”
If it’s easier, you can bring all your bottles in sealed plastic bags so your rheumatologist has the most accurate information. Your rheumatologist should make sure there are no interactions between new psoriatic arthritis treatments and the medications or supplements you’re already taking.
3. Bring notes and information from other professional visits.
Because PsA is associated with risks for psoriasis and certain other health conditions, you may see a specialist in addition to your rheumatologist or primary care physician. For example, your care team may also include a dermatologist or plastic surgeon. To make sure everyone is on the same page, bring the results of any recent tests or diagnoses with you to your rheumatology appointment.
4. Use a recording device
In one meta-analysis, accurate recall of treatment information discussed during chronic disease physician visits ranged from less than 34 percent to 88 percent. This depends on what information is recalled and how recall is measured.
You may also need to absorb a lot of information during your regular visits to your rheumatologist.
You can record conversations using your mobile phone. But be sure to get your doctor’s permission first. You can listen later and review the conversation. There are dictation apps that allow you to record and transcribe for a small fee.
Don’t have a smartphone or are you uncomfortable with your doctor recording your visit? A simple pen and paper is all you need. Or, you may want to bring a spouse or friend to the appointment who can write down the information so you can focus on important conversations.
5. Create a list of questions
Good questions will start a conversation with your rheumatologist. You can gain a deeper understanding of your illness and a realistic outlook on it. Ask your most pressing questions first. Questions include:
- What can I do to prevent this condition from worsening?
- Do I need a test to check for inflammation?
- Based on today’s physical exam, is there any evidence of new joint damage or “silent” inflammation?
- Do I need imaging tests to check for structural changes in my joints?
- Is my disease activity minimal or should I aim for a higher level of remission?
- Are there any specific exercises or physical therapies recommended to protect particularly “ticky” or painful joints?
- What does the research show about new treatments?
- Are there new FDA-approved treatments or clinical trials that might be a better fit for me?
- What side effects are possible with the new treatment plan?
Asking the right questions will ensure the right visit, help you understand your disease, and give you the power to manage it. “The most important part of seeing a doctor is education,” Valenzuela says.
takeout
- To get the most out of a visit to your rheumatologist, it’s helpful to bring a list of your current medications and supplements, a record of recent symptoms, and notes from visits to other specialists.
- As a patient, it is easy to misrepresent information during a doctor’s appointment. Taking notes or recording your conversations with your doctor will give you a record that you can review later.
- Good communication with your rheumatologist is key to effectively managing psoriatic arthritis. Write down a list of questions you want to ask your doctor so you don’t forget them when you’re in the office.
